if anyone has grown up in nyc metro area we should most be used to abt 45min on avg. to get to where we want to go for our school and or our eventual jobs. imho it's people who move here from some place else that arent used to that and thus create so much demand for 500sq ft rooms in the city. 1,600 can get a multi bedroom apt. in decent areas out of manhattan. alot more quiet and food prices are cheaper too.

Had a friend that lived there.
lol i thought you wanted to stay in the 1600 mark.
Stuy town though is nice. Located on the 16th st. loop. Its kinda like a lil hidden spot in the city. Not too far from (at least i don't think so) downtown manhattan for all the cheap but good chinese food. property wise, its extremely well maintained. space isn't bad either. but the price .

You could try williamsburg brooklyn. Rent avg is about 1500, for a studio. around bedford ave. South 1st through north 10th. People around here like to compare it to the village in the city. To me its not even close, but there's always some art thing going on. a handfull of bars & restaurants.
Bad thing though is the only subway line close is the L.